The Vision of Streams of Light Around the World

At the five Sabbath Conferences held in 1848 from April to October, the leading doctrines we as Seventh-day Adventists hold were brought together and bound together in a firm body of teaching. The Sabbath and the sanctuary truths were paramount. Then at a meeting attended by a few of the leading workers at the home of Otis Nichols in Dorchester (South Boston), Massachusetts, over the weekend of November 17 and 18, in what some have termed “the sixth” Sabbath Conference, the brethren gave study to the “Sealing Message” and to their responsibility of proclaiming to others the truths they held and particularly the Sabbath truth. Two visions were given to Ellen White, one on Friday and the other on Sabbath. Joseph Bates who was present made notes of words spoken by Ellen White in these two visions and in January, 1849, in a pamphlet titled, “A Seal of the Living God,” he published his notations. Among some of Ellen White’s expressions while in vision were these:EGWSDQ 28.6

The angels are holding the four winds.EGWSDQ 29.1

It is God that restrains the powers.EGWSDQ 29.2

The angels have not let go, for the saints are not all sealed.EGWSDQ 29.3

When Michael stands up this trouble will be all over the earth.EGWSDQ 29.4

Why they are just ready to blow. There’s a check put on because the saints are not sealed.EGWSDQ 29.5

Yea, publish the things thou hast seen and heard, and the blessing of God will attend. Look ye! that rising is in strength, and grows brighter and brighter. That truth is the seal, that’s why it comes last. The shut door we have had. God has taught and taught, but that experience is not the seal, and that commandment that has been trodden under foot will be exalted. And when ye get that you will go through the time of trouble. A Seal of the Living God, pp, 25, 26, (Joseph Bates, 1849).EGWSDQ 29.6

Ellen White recounting this experience states:EGWSDQ 29.7

At a meeting held in Dorchester, Massachusetts, November, 1848, I had been given a view of the proclamation of the sealing message, and of the duty of the brethren to publish the light that was shining upon our pathway.EGWSDQ 29.8

After coming out of vision, I said to my husband: “I have a message for you. You must begin to print a little paper and send it out to the people. Let it be small at first; but as the people read, they will send you means with which to print, and it will be a success from the first.” From this small beginning it was shown to me to be like streams of light that went clear round the world.—Life Sketches of Ellen G. White, 125.EGWSDQ 29.9

The significance of this experience in November, 1848, cannot be overlooked. If the publishing work called for was to become worldwide, a large task of evangelizing the whole world loomed before our pioneers. The implications are very strong.EGWSDQ 29.10